Backyard composting works best in an enclosed container rather than an open heap. An enclosed bin holds heat and moisture, keeps the contents tidy, and — with a heavy or locking lid — makes it harder for raccoons and rodents to get in. The Compost Education Centre in Victoria makes this point plainly: composting is simply mixing organic materials in an enclosed bin and keeping the conditions right for them to break down.
Enclosed static bins
A static bin is the most common starting point in Canada. These are the round or square plastic bins, often made partly from recycled plastic, with a lid on top and a hatch near the base to remove finished compost. The Earth Machine is a familiar example sold through many municipal compost programs.
They suit fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, garden trimmings and leaves. Because the contents are not turned mechanically, you aerate them with a fork or aerator tool. They are inexpensive and forgiving, which is why municipalities hand them out.
Tumblers
A tumbler is a drum mounted on a frame so you can rotate it. Turning mixes and aerates the contents without a fork, which can speed things up and keep the material off the ground — useful where rodents are a concern. The trade-offs are a higher price, a smaller capacity than a large static bin, and the need to keep moisture balanced because the sealed drum can become soggy.
Worm bins (vermicomposting)
Vermicomposting uses red wiggler worms to convert food scraps into a fine, dark casting. Because a worm bin can be kept indoors at room temperature, it is one of the few options that works through a Canadian winter and in apartments without outdoor space. Worms are sensitive: they do best on fruit and vegetable scraps and bedding such as shredded paper, and they should not be fed meat, dairy or large amounts of citrus.
Food waste digesters
A food digester such as a Green Cone is a different tool. It is partly buried, takes in food waste — including the meat, bones, dairy and cooked food that a backyard compost bin should not receive — and lets it break down into the surrounding soil rather than producing compost you harvest. Digesters need sunlight and well-draining soil to work, and they do not give you a usable soil amendment at the end.
Quick comparison
| Bin type | Best for | Handles meat / dairy? | Works indoors? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enclosed static bin | General backyard scraps and yard waste | No | No |
| Tumbler | Faster, off-the-ground composting | No | No |
| Worm bin | Small spaces, year-round, fruit/veg scraps | No | Yes |
| Food digester | Disposing of all food waste into soil | Yes | No |
If you have no outdoor space at all
Composting is not equally accessible to everyone. Where a backyard setup is not possible, a worm bin can run indoors, and most Canadian municipalities operate a green-bin collection that accepts a wider range of food waste. The next article on reducing household organic waste covers how the two approaches fit together.
Whichever bin you choose, the technique that makes it work is the same: a sensible balance of materials. That is covered in balancing greens and browns.